Refrigerator with a plurality of control panels

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator with a plurality of control panels comprises a refrigerator body having a plurality of cooling chambers, a first control panel configured to set temperature conditions of some of the cooling chambers, and a second control panel configured to set temperature conditions of others of the cooling chamber. The refrigerator enhances a user&#39;s convenience through simple and precise manipulations.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly,to a refrigerator with a plurality of control panels capable ofenhancing a user's convenience through simple and precise manipulationswithout errors.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a refrigerator serves to store food items therein in acooling chamber in a low-temperature state. The refrigerator includes arefrigerator body having a cooling chamber, a door configured to openand close the cooling chamber, and a refrigeration cycle configured tosupply cool air to the cooling chamber.

As the refrigeration cycle, may be used a vapor compression type ofrefrigeration cycle constituted with a compressor configured to compressa refrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the compressedrefrigerant, an expander configured to expand the condensed refrigerant,and an evaporator configured to absorb and evaporate peripheral latentheat.

As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator comprises a refrigerator body 10having a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber therein, afreezing chamber door 12 configured to open and close the freezingchamber, and a refrigerating chamber door 22 configured to open andclose the refrigerating chamber.

The refrigerating chamber is provided at an upper region of therefrigerator body 10. And, the refrigerating chamber door 22 configuredto open and close the refrigerating chamber is implemented in pluralityin number on a front surface of the refrigerator body 10.

The freezing chamber is provided at a lower region of the refrigeratorbody 10. And, the freezing chamber door 12 is provided at the freezingchamber so as to open and close the freezing chamber by being slid inback and forth directions of the refrigerator body 10.

One of the refrigerating chamber doors 22, more concretely, the rightrefrigerating chamber door 22 is provided with a home bar 25 throughwhich food items stored therein can be drawn out without opening therefrigerating chamber door 22.

The left refrigerating chamber door 22 is installed with a dispenser 27through which water or ice can be drawn out without opening therefrigerating chamber door 22. At one side of the dispenser 27, disposedis a control panel 31 configured to set temperature conditions of thefreezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber, a driving mode of thedispenser 27, and so on.

The control panel 31 includes a display 33 configured to display visualinformation, and a plurality of control buttons 35 configured to inputcontrol signals.

Recently, is being used a refrigerator having a switching chamberconfigured to set an internal temperature thereof differently frominternal temperatures of the refrigerating chamber and the freezingchamber, and capable of storing various food items at suitabletemperatures according to their types.

However, the conventional refrigerator has the following problems.

Firstly, under a configuration that temperature conditions of thecooling chambers, a driving mode of the dispenser 27, etc. are setthrough the single control panel 31, the control panel 31 has acomplicated structure. This may cause a user to manipulate the controlpanel 31 with errors.

Furthermore, when the number of control buttons 35 is increased so as toset a temperature condition of the switching chamber in the same size ofthe control panel 31, a problem may occur. In this case, a user maymanipulate the control buttons 35 with inconvenience and errors due to anarrow gap between the control buttons 35.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Therefore, it is one object of the present invention to provide arefrigerator having a plurality of control panels capable of enhancing auser's convenience through simple and precise manipulations withouterrors.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigeratorhaving a plurality of control panels capable of facilitating a settingof temperature conditions of a switching chamber.

Technical Solution

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein,there is provided a refrigerator with a plurality of control panels,comprising: a refrigerator body having a plurality of cooling chambers;a first control panel configured to set temperature conditions of someof the cooling chambers; and a second control panel configured to settemperature conditions of others of the cooling chamber.

The cooling chambers may comprise a switching chamber configured to havea switchable internal temperature.

One of the first and second control panels may be implemented as aswitching chamber control panel configured to set temperature conditionsof the switching chamber.

The first and second control panels may be arranged at the same coolingchamber door.

The first and second control panels may be arranged at different coolingchamber doors.

The cooling chambers may comprise a freezing chamber and a refrigeratingchamber, and the switching chamber may be disposed in the freezingchamber.

The refrigerator may further comprise a refrigerating chamber doorconfigured to open and close the refrigerating chamber, a freezingchamber door configured to open and close the freezing chamber, and aswitching chamber door configured to open and close the switchingchamber.

The first control panel may be arranged at the refrigerating chamberdoor, and the second control panel may be arranged at the switchingchamber door.

The second control panel may be arranged at an upper end of theswitching chamber door.

A partition wall may separate the refrigerating chamber and the freezingchamber from each other.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda refrigerator with a plurality of control panels, comprising: arefrigerator body having a plurality of cooling chambers, and aswitching chamber configured to have an internal temperature switchableto be different from temperatures of the cooling chambers; coolingchamber doors configured to open and close the cooling chambers; aswitching chamber door configured to open and close the switchingchamber; a first control panel configured to set temperature conditionsof the cooling chambers; and a second control panel configured to settemperature conditions of the switching chamber.

The first and second control panels may be arranged at one of thecooling chamber doors.

The first control panel may be arranged at one of the cooling chamberdoors, and the second control panel may be arranged at the switchingchamber door.

The second control panel may be arranged at an upper end of theswitching chamber door.

The second control panel may comprise a display portion configured todisplay visual information, and a plurality of input portions configuredto input control signals.

Advantageous Effects

As aforementioned, the present invention has the following advantages.

Firstly, the first control panel configured to set temperatureconditions of the freezing chamber and/or the refrigerating chamber, isseparately formed from the second control panel configured to settemperature conditions of the switching chamber. Accordingly, there areno limitations in the number and the arrangement of the control buttons.This allows the buttons or the signal input portions to have asufficient size, thereby enhancing a user's convenience inmanipulations. Furthermore, the first and second control panels may bevariously arranged.

Secondly, the second control panel, or the switching chamber controlpanel configured to set temperature conditions of the switching chamberis provided at the switching chamber door. This allows a user toprecisely set temperature conditions or a driving mode of the switchingchamber, without any confusion with temperature conditions of thefreezing chamber or the refrigerating chamber in manipulations.

Thirdly, the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber may havetemperature conditions, and so on set irrespective of temperatureconditions of the switching chamber. This allows the user to easily settemperature conditions, etc. of the freezing chamber and/or therefrigerating chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance withthe conventional art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a refrigerator with a plurality ofcontrol panels according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plane view of a second control panel of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a refrigerator with a plurality ofcontrol panels according to another embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 4.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator with a plurality of control panels accordingto the present invention will be explained in more detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, a refrigerator with a plurality of control panelsaccording to the present invention comprises a refrigerator body 110having a plurality of cooling chambers, a first control panel 119configured to set temperature conditions of some of the coolingchambers, and a second control panel 151 configured to set temperatureconditions of others of the cooling chamber.

The cooling chamber totally may indicate a freezing chamber and arefrigerating chamber. The refrigerator body may be provided with one ofthe freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. The cooling chambersmay include a switching chamber configured to have an internaltemperature switchable to be different from temperatures of the freezingchamber and the refrigerating chamber. The refrigerator body may beimplemented so that the freezing and refrigerating chambers are disposedin upper and lower directions. Here, the freezing chamber may bedisposed at an upper side or a lower side of the refrigerator.Hereinafter, will be explained a refrigerator having a configurationthat the refrigerating chamber is disposed at an upper side of therefrigerator body, whereas the switching chamber and the freezingchamber are formed at a lower side of the refrigerator body.

The refrigerating chamber 111 may be formed at an upper side of therefrigerator body 110, whereas the freezing chamber 131 may be formed ata lower side of the refrigerator body 110. One pair of refrigeratingchamber doors 113 through which the refrigerating chamber 111 is openedand closed may be provided on a front surface of the refrigerator body110. One refrigerating chamber door 113 may be provided with a home bar115 through which food items stored therein can be drawn out withoutopening the refrigerating chamber door 113. Another refrigeratingchamber door 113 may be installed with a dispenser 117 through whichwater or ice can be drawn out without opening the refrigerating chamberdoor 113.

The first control panel 119 may be provided at the dispenser 117. Thefirst control panel 119 may be configured so as to set temperatureconditions of the freezing chamber 131 and the refrigerating chamber111, a driving mode of the dispenser 117 (e.g., a water supply mode, anice supply mode, etc.), and so on.

The first control panel 119 may include a display portion configured todisplay visual information, and a plurality of input portions 122configured to input control signals to select temperature conditions ora driving mode. Here, the signal input portions 122 may be implementedas a plurality of control buttons configured to input control signals ina pressing manner. The signal input portions 122 may be implemented astouch type buttons displayed on the display portion, and configured toinput control signals when external touch is applied thereto.

The freezing chamber 131 may be formed at a lower side of therefrigerator body 110. The freezing chamber 131 may be provided with arefrigerating chamber door 133 configured to open and close the freezingchamber 131. The freezing chamber door 133 may be configured so as to bedrawn out in a sliding manner along a rail 137 that can be contractedand expanded in back and forth directions of the refrigerator body 110.At a rear side of the freezing chamber door 133, may be provided adrawer 135 that can be drawn out of the freezing chamber 131 when thefreezing chamber door 133 is opened.

Between the refrigerating chamber 111 and the freezing chamber 131, maybe provided a switching chamber 141 configured to have an internaltemperature switchable to be different from temperatures of therefrigerating chamber 111 and the freezing chamber 131.

A partition wall 140 for thermal insulation may be formed between therefrigerating chamber 111 and the freezing chamber 131. The switchingchamber 141 may be arranged inside the freezing chamber 131. Theswitching chamber 141 may include a casing (not shown) formed of a heatinsulating material for separation from the freezing chamber 131, and anelectric heater (not shown) for heating inside of the casing.

The switching chamber 141 is provided with a switching chamber door 143configured to open and close the switching chamber 141. The switchingchamber door 143 may be configured so as to perform a sliding motionalong a rail 147 that can be contracted and expanded in back and forthdirections of the refrigerator body 110. On a rear surface of theswitching chamber door 143, may be provided a drawer 145 that can besimultaneously drawn out and received in the freezing chamber 131 withthe switching chamber door 143. Here, the drawer 135 of the freezingchamber 131, and the drawer 145 of the switching chamber 141 may beintegrally or detachably mounted to the freezing chamber door 133 andthe switching chamber door 143.

The switching chamber door 143 may include an external plate 144 a thatforms appearance thereof, an internal plate 144 b disposed inside theexternal plate 144 a and spacing from a spot to be filled with a foamingagent, an upper cap 144 c configured to cover each upper end of theexternal plate 144 a and the internal plate 144 b, and a lower cap 144 dconfigured to cover each lower end of the external plate 144 a and theinternal plate 144 b.

The second control panel 151, a switching chamber control panelconfigured to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber 141may be installed at the upper cap 144 c. The second control panel 151may be also arranged on a front surface of the switching chamber door143.

Referring to FIG. 3, the second control panel 151 may include a display153 configured to display visual information, and a plurality of inputportions 155 configured to input control signals.

Here, the signal input unit 155 may be implemented as a plurality ofcontrol buttons configured to input control signals in a pressingmanner. The signal input unit 155 may be implemented as touch typebuttons displayed on the display 153, and configured to input controlsignals when external touch is applied thereto. The signal input unit155 may be implemented so as to perform functions necessary whentemperature conditions of the switching chamber 141 are to be set. Forinstance, the signal input unit 155 may include an up button 156 aconfigured to increase a temperature displayed on the display 153, adown button 156 b configured to decrease a temperature displayed on thedisplay 153, a mode display button 156 c configured to display aplurality of modes of the switching chamber 141 having differenttemperature bandwidths, and a selection button 156 d configured toselect one of the plurality of temperature bandwidths displayed on thedisplay 153.

Under these configurations, the first control panel 119 may be used toset temperature conditions of the freezing chamber 131 and therefrigerating chamber 111. However, the second control panel 151 may beused to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber 141.Accordingly, a user may set temperature conditions without errors, andthe first control panel 119 and the second control panel 151 may beeasily manipulated without interference between a plurality of buttons.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, will be explained arefrigerator with a plurality of control panels according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals will begiven to the same components as those of the aforementioned embodiment,and their detailed explanations will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a refrigerator with a plurality of controlpanels according to another embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a refrigerator body 110 having a plurality of cooling chambersand a switching chamber 141, cooling chamber doors 113 and 133configured to open and close the cooling chambers, a switching chamberdoor 143 configured to open and close the switching chamber 141, a firstcontrol panel 119 configured to set temperature conditions of thecooling chambers, and a second control panel 161 serving as a switchingchamber control panel configured to set temperature conditions of theswitching chamber 141.

Inside the refrigerator body 110, the refrigerating chamber 111, thefreezing chamber 131, and the switching chamber 141 may be separatelyformed from each other.

One pair of refrigerating chamber doors 113 through which therefrigerating chamber 111 is rotatably opened and closed may be providedon a front surface of the refrigerating chamber 111. The rightrefrigerating chamber door 113 may be provided with a home bar 115,whereas the left refrigerating chamber door 113 may be installed with adispenser 117. The freezing chamber 131 and the switching chamber 141may be respectively provided with the freezing chamber door 133 and theswitching chamber door 143, each installed so as to be slidable in backand forth directions of the refrigerator body 110.

The first control panel 119 may be provided at one side of the dispenser117, and the second control panel 161 may be provided at another side ofthe dispenser 117. The first control panel 119 may be configured so asto set temperature conditions of the freezing chamber 131 and therefrigerating chamber 111, whereas the second control panel 161 may beconfigured so as to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber141. More concretely, the first control panel 119 may be arranged at anupper region of the dispenser 117 in a horizontal direction, whereas thesecond control panel 161 may be arranged at a right region of thedispenser 117 in a vertical direction. Here, the second control panel161 may be arranged at a left region of the dispenser 117.

The first control panel 119 may include a display portion configured todisplay visual information, and a plurality of input portions 122configured to input control signals to select temperature conditions ofthe refrigerating chamber 111 and the freezing chamber 131, a drivingmode of the dispenser 117, etc.

The second control panel 161 may be formed to have a long plate shape ina vertical direction, and may be provided with a display portion 163 ata middle region thereof. A plurality of signal input portions 165configured to input control signals may be arranged at upper and lowersides of the display portion 163.

Referring to FIG. 5, the signal input unit 165 may include an UP button166 a configured to increase a temperature displayed on the display 163,a DOWN button 166 b configured to decrease a temperature displayed onthe display 163, a mode display button 166 c configured to display aplurality of modes having different temperature bandwidths, and aselection button 166 d configured to select one of the plurality ofmodes displayed on the display 163.

Under these configurations, the first control panel 119 may be used toset temperature conditions of the freezing chamber 131 and therefrigerating chamber 111, or a driving mode of the dispenser 117.However, the second control panel 161 may be used to set temperatureconditions of the switching chamber 141. Accordingly, a user may settemperature conditions without errors, and the first control panel 119and the second control panel 161 may be easily manipulated withoutinterference between a plurality of buttons.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The presentteachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thisdescription is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scopeof the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods,and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described hereinmay be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternativeexemplary embodiments.

As the present features may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understoodthat the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of thedetails of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, butrather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in theappended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fallwithin the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metesand bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

1. A refrigerator with a plurality of control panels, comprising: arefrigerator body having a plurality of cooling chambers; a firstcontrol panel configured to set temperature conditions of some of thecooling chambers; and a second control panel configured to settemperature conditions of others of the cooling chamber.
 2. Therefrigerator of claim 1, wherein the cooling chambers comprises aswitching chamber configured to have a switchable internal temperature.3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein one of the first and secondcontrol panels is implemented as a switching chamber control panelconfigured to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber. 4.The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the first and second control panelsare arranged at the same cooling chamber door.
 5. The refrigerator ofclaim 3, wherein the first and second control panels are arranged atdifferent cooling chamber doors.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 5, whereinthe cooling chambers comprise a freezing chamber and a refrigeratingchamber, and the switching chamber is disposed inside the freezingchamber.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 6, further comprising: arefrigerating chamber door configured to open and close therefrigerating chamber; a freezing chamber door configured to open andclose the freezing chamber; and a switching chamber door configured toopen and close the switching chamber.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 7,wherein the first control panel is arranged at the refrigerating chamberdoor, and the second control panel is arranged at the switching chamberdoor.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the second control panelis arranged at an upper end of the switching chamber door.
 10. Therefrigerator of claim 6, wherein the refrigerating chamber and thefreezing chamber are separated from each other by a partition wall. 11.A refrigerator with a plurality of control panels, comprising: arefrigerator body having a plurality of cooling chambers, and aswitching chamber configured to have an internal temperature switchableto be different from internal temperatures of the cooling chambers;cooling chamber doors configured to open and close the cooling chambers;a switching chamber door configured to open and close the switchingchamber; a first control panel configured to set temperature conditionsof the cooling chambers; and a second control panel configured to settemperature conditions of the switching chamber.
 12. The refrigerator ofclaim 11, wherein the first and second control panels are arranged atone of the cooling chamber doors.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 11,wherein the first control panel is arranged at one of the coolingchamber doors, and the second control panel is arranged at the switchingchamber door.
 14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the secondcontrol panel is arranged at an upper end of the switching chamber door.15. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the second control panelcomprises: a display portion configured to display visual information;and a plurality of input portions configured to input control signals.